Question about bicycle troops

[Mobhack]

A bunch of cyclists cannot sneak about like infantry do, when mounted. They take casualties worse than infantry do as well, hence size 2. The same applies to some conscript riflemen who can be size 2 due to being inept (USSR factory militia for Stalingrad IIRC is one).

The original SSI game only had the mounted icon for cyclists, cavalry and motorcyclists. We added formations with dismounting crews to some OOBs a decade (?) or so back. So if you want dismounting size 1 passengers, take one of those formations if your OOB has them. The original types really only remain since some scenarios used them, or or those who want "charging" cavalry (lancers do more melee damage on infantry and mounted, if they survive to do so. I rather like Polish lancers for cutting down fleeing riflemen, myself!)

[IronDuke99]

The Japanese made extensive use of bicycle troops in Malaya early in the war in the far east. On occasion, when ambushed and caught mounted, they got badly shot up, because the one thing you cannot do on a bicycle is use a weapon...

[IronDuke99]

PS
Mounted cavalry did actually see a fair bit of action in WWII (not just Poland and the largely mythical lancer attacks on German Panzers) but especially on the Eastern Front where Germany, Italy and Russia all used cavalry (some of it armed with swords as well as rifles) and also in the Sino-Japanese war.

I also know of at least one cavalry charge by British led local mounted forces in Burma against the Japanese.

[jp10]

Some countries fielded folding bicycles that could be backpacked across difficult terrain. Some mainly used them for scouting or communication duty while some had a bicycle unit attached to Light Infantry formations to move ahead and seize a position and wait for the other companies to arrive. Once in a defense they could be pulled back as a mobile reserve.
In an attack situation, Belgian and Italian doctrine roughly had one man per 9-10 bicycles stay with the cycles so it was about a 90% effective attack force when dismounted.

[IronDuke99]

WWII British Paras were issued some folding bicyles and, from early 1944(?) folding motorcycles. Not that I think they are worth putting in the game.

[AxisWarlord]

Originally Posted by DRG

ALSO in the Slovak OOB ( apparently nobody plays as the Slovaks........) the Bicycle Platoon has the bikes set up in the scout vehicle UC so troops can use them as transport then dismount like some cav units...the bikes need a " crew ' but that's the game

Hmmm, never noticed that oddity before Don.
Upon examination it seems to be the only Slovak unit in uc 32, therefore for the next update I would think it should more correctly be in UC 172 - Bicycle Section.
This automatically moves the Bicycle Plt to uc 172 also.

Although, further to your note re: 12 men = size 2 (Agreed), but, a carrier unit with just 2 men should correctly be Size 1.
It is Only 12 men when loaded with a 10 man Infantry section, as it does have ability to carry 10 additional men.

Thoughts?
Or does this prevent loading troops, u are the expert on uc abilities.

[Mobhack]

But bicycles need to be size 2 as with cavalry as they are taller and so easy targets and also easily spotted. Making a carrier (2 man) element size 1 wont work for when the section is mounted with 12 guys pedalling. That the nominal men left with a pile of dismounted bikes might be smaller is irrelevant. The mounted case wins out since size is fixed.

[AxisWarlord]

Originally Posted by AxisWarlord

Hmmm, never noticed that oddity before Don.
Upon examination it seems to be the only Slovak unit in uc 32, therefore for the next update I would think it should more correctly be in UC 172 - Bicycle Section.
This automatically moves the Bicycle Plt to uc 172 also.


Thoughts?
Or does this prevent loading troops, u are the expert on uc abilities.

Ok, valid point on size Andy.
But what about correcting the unit class for future patch?

Regards,
Mark

[Mobhack]

Its a very minor point regarding a few units that dont follow the guidelines. If there is time to look into it while doing next years patch work then we may. But its low priority.

[DRG]

Originally Posted by AxisWarlord

But what about correcting the unit class for future patch?

Regards,
Mark

Before you make suggestions like this trying your ideas in MOBHack and then the game first BEFORE posting here is always good practice

What do you see when the Slovak Bicycles are UC 32 ?? You see an Icon with two bicycles because UC 32 is a vehicle class and can carry " passengers " and allow me to select the Icon I want

Now go to any other nation with bicycles ...try Japan, unit 104.....those are the UC you are saying I need to " correct" this to......see anything significant ?? UC 172 is an INFANTRY UC and therefore produces INFANTRY graphics NOT vehicles and that is PRECISELY why " scout vehicle" was used in the Slovak OOB as an experiment in handling bicycle units and PRECISELY why using UC 172 was not used in this case

Don